Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo review: birdwatching just doubled its fun!
Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo Camera: One-Minute Review
Bird feeder cameras are another way technology helps us connect with nature, which may seem a bit paradoxical, but that’s what the Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo does. previous generation Netvue Birdfy Feeder AI The camera has appeared in our roundup The best bird feeder camerasbut the latest Birdfy camera takes the technology to a whole new level.
The premise of the device is simple; it’s a bird feeder with a weatherproof Wi-Fi camera in the middle. Think of this camera as a smart security camera, like a amazon wink or ring cameraas it will send you an alert every time motion is detected. In this case, movement comes in the form of a bird (or squirrel, maybe even a bear, depending on where you are). Using artificial intelligence technology, the Birdfy app can even identify birds for you and create a visitor list of feeders for the day.
The new version of Birdfy Feeder brings an enhanced camera. The main camera now houses two camera units. The first is a wide-angle camera that displays the entire habitat, while the second provides a closer view with motorized panning and tracking of any detected birds. You can even view footage from either camera via a live stream in the app.
In addition to the main dual camera unit, the Feeder 2 Duo also has a second camera unit mounted on the side of the feeder that provides a wide-angle side view of birds on the ground. The second camera is great for larger birds, or if you just want to edit between two different camera angles.
The Feeder 2 Duo secondary camera doesn’t have the same image quality as the main camera, and if you don’t need it, you can buy the main camera separately as the Birdfy Feeder 2 Pro. The second camera has a bit of chromatic aberration, which affects quality, but that’s all to do with the fact that it’s actually a camera for surveillance rather than a camera that offers superior photography capabilities.
Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo: Price and Availability
- $419.99 / £379.99 / AU$665 – but there are regular discounts
- There are also Birdfy Feeder 2 and Feeder 2 Pro options
The Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo is the most advanced bird feeder camera system on the market, featuring two camera units and three cameras. However, it is also the most expensive US$419.99/£379.99/AU$665 On the Birdfy websitecan be prohibitive for some. Thankfully, there are different options for using the same feedline but with different camera combinations.
The first is the Birdfy Feeder 2, priced at $259.99/£204.99. One of its cameras is the secondary camera mentioned in the Feeder 2 Duo test. The kit does not include the solar panel and can be purchased separately for $29.99/£22.99. It also doesn’t include AI recognition, which can be purchased separately through the Birdfy app if needed.
Then there’s Birdfy Feeder 2 Pro. It uses the same improved main dual-camera unit as the Feeder 2 Duo on test, which includes a tracking camera. It also includes solar panels and can be purchased without an AI subscription (which can be added in the app) for $279.99/$249.99, or a lifetime AI subscription for $299.99/£279.99.
Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo: Specs
| sensor | unknown |
| photo | 2MP – front camera, 3MP – front portrait camera, 2MP – side camera |
| video | Full HD – front camera, 2k – front portrait camera, Full HD – side camera |
| memory | MicroSD (not included) 30 days of free unlimited online storage (rolling) |
| aspect | 267 mm (width) × 300 mm (height) × 300 mm (depth) |
| weight | About. 1,460 grams |
| Battery | 9000mAh (main unit) + 9000mAh (secondary camera) |
Birdfy Feeder 2 Pro: Design
- Two camera units, the main unit is an improved dual camera setup
- Various installation methods
- Wi-Fi connectivity and solar panels further extend battery life
Setting up the whole thing took me less than 10 minutes. The only structure required is to mount the camera, including screwing on the small arm that auxiliary the camera. The camera itself can be held in place using thumbscrews.
My only disappointment with the design is that the new secondary side camera can only be mounted on one side because the mounting arm is set at an angle. Tried mounting it on the other side where the mounting threads are and the angle of the camera to the mount is incorrect. Hopefully Birdfy can find a solution because this looks simple enough.
The feeder is mounted on a quick-release plate that can be screwed to a wall or fence, or it can be attached to a strap and secured around a tree trunk or post. I chose to place it around the trunk of the tree (see below) and the entire installation only took a few minutes. As I write this, the feeder has been securely affixed to the tree for over two months, and is used by birds and squirrels almost hourly, regardless of the weather.
Connecting the camera is simple, and through the app, the camera connects to your home Wi-Fi system. My feeder is about 20 ft/6 m from the back of my house and maybe 5 ft/2 m from the nearest Wi-Fi router connection, and both cameras maintain a solid connection without any dropouts.
Both cameras have built-in batteries that charge via the USB-C port and have long battery life. The battery life depends on how active the camera is, for example, how many birds land on the feeder, whether you use the built-in light at night, and whether you try to scare away unwanted visitors with an alarm. Generally speaking, though, I find that the battery dies after a few weeks, at which point it needs to be removed and recharged.
In addition to solid battery life, the Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo also features a solar panel with two USB-C ports on it, allowing you to power two cameras continuously, hopefully without having to bring them in to charge.
The solar panel has a screw-in mount that can be fixed to a wall or fence, or a flexible mount that can be wrapped around a tree branch or similar object. No matter where you place it, you’ll of course want to maximize the amount of light reaching it for optimal performance.
I used a similar solar panel on my original Birdy feeder camera, and in over 18 months I didn’t once have to charge the camera, and its battery rarely dropped below 80%. Depending on where you live, you’ll need to be judicious about placing feeders and panels in your garden during the winter, when daylight hours drop significantly, assuming you don’t want to manually charge the batteries.
As I’ve found with every bird feeder camera I’ve tested, none of them are particularly squirrel-proof, and as long as bird food is available, squirrels will try to eat every last bit of it, even if it means breaking the feeder .
After a few weeks of use, the squirrels broke some of the plastic in the feeder to get to the last few remaining seeds (see above). This damage doesn’t affect its use at all, and to be honest, if you have larger mammals trying to access a food source, you have to accept that this is going to happen.
Sadly, lights and sirens don’t deter squirrels. However, screaming into my phone and then playing the audio through the Birdfy camera’s built-in microphone did the trick, although not a permanent solution. I also get some funny looks when I do this in public!
Overall, I enjoy using the Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo in my garden and seeing the various bird species visiting. The new camera system is a great way to see birds up close, and the image quality of the main camera appears to be improved over its predecessor, especially with the addition of the close-up camera. The secondary camera is a nice add-on, but I wish it could be mounted on the other side; to me it produces better images if it’s not directly in the sun.
Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo: Performance
The Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo is a dual camera setup with three independent cameras. I can’t find the exact specs for the camera sensor. However, based on the still image and video resolution, it’s fairly safe to say that the sensor is a general-purpose smartphone sensor, likely the same one used in security cameras made by Birdfy’s parent brand Netvue.
While the resolution may not be great, the camera is designed for viewing and sharing images on social media, not for creating large photos, so the size and quality of the images are perfectly acceptable.
The high-capacity battery in each unit should last a week or two, but the included solar panel should always be kept charged.
The cameras are also IP65 weatherproof, which I can attest to because I left the camera outside in a pouring rain. I also used the previous generation camera for over a year in both hot and cold environments and it still worked fine and the battery still held a charge.
Video and photo samples
image 1 of 3
Should you buy the Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo?
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
How I tested Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo
- Install the feeder on the tree for 3 months
- Connect to my home Wi-Fi
- Monitor daily visiting birds with the Birdfy app
I tested the Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo by mounting it on a tree frequented by garden birds (and squirrels). The feeders were tied to the trees and the cameras were set up using an iPhone and the Birdfy app.
I leave the feeders there for three months, regardless of weather conditions. During that time, I monitored the bird visits in real time via the app and viewed the photos and videos I captured.
I also studied artificial intelligence recognition and found and corrected some errors. Hopefully this will help improve the accuracy of bird identification in the future.
- First review time: December 2024
